How do I start Homeschooling?
Step by step instructions on how to start.
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Don’t think “traditional school'' anymore.
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Think out of the box.
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Teachers take longer because they have 30 students & they have to divide their attention.
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Teachers assign a lot of busy work to their students so they can help each one’s needs as best they can over the course of a day.
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Traditional schools are filled with a lot of unnecessary fluff.
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Traditional school is set up to be boring with sitting for many hours each day, not allowing any room for individuality or each child’s gifts or weaknesses.
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Research curriculum (don’t purchase it yet).
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Cathy Duffy Reviews is a great resource for researching curriculum.
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Don’t go to the “all in one” curriculum. This will serve all subjects for one grade.
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Your child may excel in math but not excel in writing so you wouldn’t want to buy all one grade of one curriculum.
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Most all in one curriculum sets are very pricey
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Most all in one curriculum sets are way too much & overwhelming.
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There are different approaches to curriculum such as:
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Traditional through textbooks
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Unschooling (child lead)
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Through literature
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Mod podge of different things put together
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Live Online
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Recorded online/online programs
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Through co-ops
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Through outside enrichment classes
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Combination of all of the above
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Decide if you will be going through an Independent Homeschool Charter, filing your own school without government overhead or going through a PSP.
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If you decide to go through an Independent Homeschool Charter
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An independent homeschool charter does NOT have a brick & mortar building. They are not the same as just a charter school with a building,
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If you decide to do a charter there are many options (Ones mentioned below are in San Diego) All of HEC vendors accept the first 3 mentioned below.
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Once you get into a charter school
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They will give you funding to use towards paying for curriculum or outside classes with their approved vendors
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Funding ranges from $2000-$3400 a year.
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This funding is put into an account where you order funds to be paid to approved vendors only.
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They assign you a counselor or homeschool teacher that you meet with once a month to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing to meet CA state guidelines.
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They also collect some samples of the work you did the week before with your kids.
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That teacher guides you; but you are still the teacher of your kids.
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If you decide to go with filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA):
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You would refile each year after
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Step-by-Step instruction on how to file with the state of CA
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This is free. It is basically telling the state of CA that you are filing your own school. You are not asking permission.
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It will ask you who the teacher is & the principal is. That is the mom, dad or grandparents.
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It will ask you to name your school
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It will ask you to name your qualifications...you do not need to have a credential or a degree to teach your own child.
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You do not need to keep track of grades as a PSA until you get to High School.
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When in High School you would keep track of grades & classes to add to their transcript.
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You can create your own transcript with a letterhead with your school name.
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You can also find templates for a small fee or pay someone to create a transcript for you for a small fee.
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And yes, these are legal transcripts that college will take. When it comes time to send transcripts, you would send transcripts in a sealed envelope to universities.
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I suggest joining the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) if you choose to go the PSA route.
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They are a great resource for any homeschool legal issues and can help with how to exit the public schools.
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If anything arises they have attorneys in every state that can help.
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If you decide to go with a Private School (Satellite) Program (PSP):
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A PSP such as Promises School K-12th
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This is kind of like filing under an organization that filled a PSA.
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It is like it is a private school (but for admin only)
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A PSP does NOT provide classes.
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It provides filing & admin, such as the keeping of grades & attendance.
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It can also provide a transcript.
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It could cost $50-$200 a month.
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Some PSP’s offer co-op’s.
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Co-op’s are where the parents all stay & help teach classes on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.
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Some PSP’s offer classes.
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You would pay out of pocket for these classes to whoever is offering them, like a private school.
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Once you decide which way you are going to homeschool & have signed the PSA, PSP or the Charter you are going with, you can now tell your kids school your child will no longer be going to that school.
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Write an email or handwritten note telling the school “As of this date, my child _____, will no longer be enrolled at _____school. Their new school will send for their Cum folder.
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If with a PSA, You can send for her Cum folder through a PSA with a letterhead with your school name.
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PSA’s cannot be filed until October 1st.
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If with a Charter or PSP, they will request their Cum folder.
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Start Homeschooling. Do not overload yourself or your child with unnecessary things.
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Order curriculum
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Order curriculum that meets your needs & your child’s needs.
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Used at Homeschool Marketplace
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Look for Homeschool curriculum​
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Don’t purchase too much!
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You don’t need to finish all pages of the workbook or textbook curriculum.
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If your child gets the concept, move on.
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Nobody is keeping tabs on you if you miss work, a worksheet, a lesson or a day (or a few days) of school.
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A homeschool day can be 1 hour.
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De-School
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De-schooling is getting out of your child’s head & your head the “traditional school” model.
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Make days fun & short
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Go outside & do fun, educational field trips
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It is recommended by many veteran homeschoolers to only work on Language Arts & Math & ease into history & science later.
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Remember. homeschool doesn’t look like traditional school.
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See attachment of the hours you should homeschool each day.
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Science & History does not need a textbook or set curriculum especially at the elementary age.
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You can teach all of your kids of different ages the same history & science.
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And in some cases, if your kids are at the same level, you can teach them the same language arts & Math.
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You can have your older kids help with the younger kids by reading to them or helping them with other subjects.
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Get help!
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Homeschool with another family
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Send them to an enrichment center 1-2 days a week.
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Join a co-op that you all take turns in a large group teaching.
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Join a weekly outside park day group or a nature group.
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Go on weekly or bi-weekly field trips that the kids look forward to
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Take a break when needed.
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